Roger Fox is New Zealand’s foremost jazz trombonist, big band leader, jazz educator, arranger and producer. Fox has performed in concerts with some of the biggest names in the jazz world and has performed with his Big Band in the Global Festival arena including at the Montreux Jazz Festival. Island View Jazz and Blues festival will see Fox bring the Rodger Fox FunkBone Experience with special vocalist Erna Ferry. This 6-piece band will cover many styles of jazz, funk and blues and is a hit with any age group.

Paul Ubana Jones, Swiss English musician, was born in London to a Yorkshire mother and a Nigerian father, He was playing guitar by the age of 11. This was the beginning of a four-decade career that would see him crossing continents and recording eight albums.

Over the years, Paul has shared the stage with various artists, including Taj Mahal, Keb Mo, Norah Jones, Bob Dylan, Tuck and Patti, Crowded House and many others.

His festival appearances include Dublin Blues Festival, Byron Bay Blues Festival, Vancouver Island Folk Festival, Blues at Bridgetown, and of course the Island View Jazz Festival.

Marsden's career spans four decades, and during that time he has played thousands of concerts in New Zealand and introduced several generations of New Zealanders to the blues. He was voted New Zealand Entertainer of the Year in 1990, and his 1991 album Burning Rain later went gold. Marsden has toured the USA four times, and each time he has played with and befriended artists such as Little Willy Foster, Bobby Mack, Ronnie Taylor, and Australian Dave Boyle. He has encouraged all these artists to tour New Zealand, and thus broadened New Zealanders' appreciation of blues music. Marsden was a student at the University of Mississippi in 1996, from where he graduated with a Diploma in Southern Studies, and more recently he has tutored at Waikato Institute of Technology in "Bluesology". In the 2006 New Year Honours, Marsden was appointed a Member of the New Zealand Order of Merit, for services to music. Marsden was a friend of Stevie Ray Vaughan; upon living in Texas at various times he would stay at Vaughan's house for months on end. He toured with Vaughan a few times, playing harmonica.[2] In October 2018 he was presented with the President's Medallion from the Variety Artists Club of New Zealand.

Neil Billington is one of the leading harmonica players to come out of New Zealand, and combines a rare capacity for both the traditional blues harmonica and the less typical chromatic harmonica. Billington has recently returned from a tour in Japan performing and sharing his love for all things music. He will be performing at Island View Jazz and Blues Festival in a trio with the well-known Raven Mavens.

The Raven Mavens Express. Blues chanteuse, Cindy Muggeridge plays piano in the style of Otis Spann with a dash of Nina Simone and Dr John on the side. She is joined by the virtuosic skills of one-of-a-kind mouth-harp maestro Neil Billington and the cool grooves of Anje Glindemann on drums. Be prepared for an incendiary concoction of blues ballads and Boogie.

The Blues News are Anavah (Vocals) Ian Jeffries (Guitar & Vocals) Lance Healy (Bass & Vocals) Tristan Luke (Keyboards) and Reuben Paraha (Drums & Vocals) These seasoned musicians have a ton of experience all playing in different bands in the Waikato, Auckland and the Bay of Plenty region. Keyboard player Tristan Luke a recent arrival to these shores hales from Essex in the UK.

The Blues News love nothing better than to entertain their audience by swinging the Blues and adding their own flavour to popular Blues songs. With very impressive vocals from Anavah, the musicianship and soulful grooves of the band making The Blues New an exciting act to catch. 

Mike Garner is a big name in the New Zealand Blues scene and has also performed internationally in countries including England, Germany and Japan. Garner’s latest record features acoustic old time blues and originals with a guest appearance by Neil Billington on the Harmonica and Robbie Laven on the fiddle. This festival will see Garner and Robbie Laven team up for an epic Jazz and Blues performance.

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Jade Pritchard is one of the most popular solo acoustic performers in NZ, once opening for Santana in his Auckland show a few years back. The former frontman for the acclaimed band Coast, Prichard is now primarily a solo performer within the Auckland music scene and around the Bay. Pritchard’s smooth soulful vocals and outstanding guitar playing of both originals and covers will be a must see.

Whakatane based local musician Jinan Dodd Specialising in Blues has been playing the guitar for over 7 years and has opened himself up to a wide range of genres. Influenced by the likes of Stevie Ray Vaughn, Tommy Emmanuel, Justin Timberlake and Marvin Gaye. Since discovering his feel for performing at 17, he is progressing rapidly and enjoying the New Zealand music scene. With his high falsetto and sexy guitar licks, Jinan and his guitar are not to be missed.

Ree and Matt share a passion for Blues, Jazz, and Funk. After discovering each other's common callings in 2011 whilst studying Music together, they have been performing and creating together ever since in various covers and originals bands.

Island View Jazz and Blues Festival will see them as their dynamic two-piece. Having played a variety of different engagements and gigs, they have curated an irresistible setlist over the last few years, ensuring your entertainment and delight.